AFC Notes: Bills, Chiefs, Colts

Bills

Following the recent news that the Bills sent DT Marcell Dareus home for an undisclosed team violation, Mike Rodak of ESPN takes a look at the team’s options if they were to seriously consider moving on from him in the next year or so.

It’s worth mentioning that GM Brandon Beane said Saturday that they currently aren’t looking to move on from Dareus at this time.

“No, but everybody’s got to be on board right now, so hopefully this is something he’ll learn from and everybody will understand the message that Sean and I are [sending],” Beane said. “We have expectations, we have standards that everybody has to live by, and if you’re not [going to], then you’re not going to be here.”

By releasing Dareus this year, the Bills would incur $16.1 million of dead money, given that his contract is guaranteed for 2017. Beyond that, they would be on the hook for another $7.35 million in 2018, which means it would actually be more expensive to cut him than keep him for two more seasons.

If the Bills were to trade Dareus this year, they would pick up $9.75 million of cap savings and take a $14.2 million cap hit this year.

Should Bills wait until next year to release Dareus, they would be looking at $21.6 million dead-money charge. They could improve that figure to $14 million in 2018 and another $7.8 million in 2019 by designating him as a post-June 1 release.

With all of this in mind, Rodak believes the only realistic option for the Bills would be to find a trade partner who would be willing to take on the fully guaranteed portions of his salary.

Chiefs

Chiefs HC Andy Reid said he thinks they’re going to be fine at running back, even after losing Spencer Ware to a knee injury.

“I think we’re going to be OK there,” Reid said, via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “Now, are we going to replace Spence? No. I mean, he’s a good football player. But the young kid, he’ll step in and he’ll do a nice job for us.”